Genoa's Augmented Reality Light Signs

Yesterday we discussed the effort of cities to do something about too much commercial expressions in their streets. We concluded that most cities find it very hard to find a balance between prohibiting of private initiatives and earning money with advertisement spaces leased by the authorities themselves. Here is another brilliant example from Genoa. The rather chique shopping street Via XX Settembre is one of the most famous and beautiful areas of this North Italian city. In order to preserve its character, the municipality has made a deal (or a decision) with the entrepreneurs along the shopping arcade. Advertising in light is made possible, but only in the same style, which therefore becomes immediately recognizable as the Genovese light sign style. The street’s main characteristic is its light advertising which looks as a physical translation of augmented reality at first sight.

The Genovese authorities have to deal with some big companies along the expensive shopping lane, all having their own famous logos and advertising methods. Here the local government has obviously won the battle about the character of public space. Even big companies such as McDonald’s had to adapt to the Genovese light style.

Wow, I’m impressed by the fantastic contemporary city benches Torino-based design studio Adriano Design created. Finally some outdoor seating that meets the wishes of the city dwellers of the 21st century.

What do you get when you cram a lawn chock-full of books? A Bookyard! We love pop-up libraries, from trees to trains. Italian artist Massimo Bartolini has outfitted the gentle slopes of St. Peter’s Abbey in Ghent with 12 sweeping bookcases for the Belgian art festival Track: A Contemporary City Conversation. The installation is actually adjacent to the abbey’s vineyard (the bookcases are aligned with the rows of vines) because Bartolini believes that both good wine and books can broaden the mind.

A couple of months ago we blogged about the High Line, the urban transformation project in New York City. What was once an old traintrack trough Manhattan will be a next generation park across the city. Landscape wins terrain in densed parts of the city through the process of reclaiming the landscape. People in Rotterdam…

I often get jealous at advertising creatives. They are able to create atmospheres, situations and places that are unthinkable of in the real world. They are able to create illusions and make their vision or dream come true for a minute. This US Cellular commercial is absolutely great. Just have a look and get inspired….